Course Title: Prepare and produce complex legal documents

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2011

Course Code: JUST5176C

Course Title: Prepare and produce complex legal documents

School: 650T TAFE Business

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6106 - Advanced Diploma of Legal Practice

Course Contact : Doug Gourlay

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5944

Course Contact Email:doug.gourlay@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 80

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to use either a range of advanced functions within at least one software package or to integrate functions from at least two software packages, to produce complex legal documents.

All aspects of legal practice may be subject to a range of legislation, rules, regulations and/or codes of practice relevant to different job roles and jurisdictions.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

BSBLEG401A Prepare and produce complex legal documents

Element:

Develop precedents and macros for document design

Performance Criteria:

1. Develop and use precedents and macros to ensure consistency of design and layout

2. Evaluate and amend templates and macros to ensure document requirements can be met

3. Link macros as required

4. Suggest improvements to the design and/or structure of existing documents and facilitate a review process of suggested improvements

Element:

Establish document design and structure

Performance Criteria:

1. Identify requirements of the task

2. Select software appropriate to the task

3. Determine document design and structure

4. Design and structure document to meet designated criteria

5. Review existing precedent documents for appropriateness

6. Build new precedents from existing documents

Element:

Organise self or others to print documents

Performance Criteria:


1. Print documents as required

2. Arrange review of documents with designated person

3. Undertake final printing of documents

4. Manage any difficulties to produce completed documents within agreed time lines

Element:

Organise self or others to produce documents

Performance Criteria:


1. Prepare documents using appropriate and available precedent documents according to firm's policies and procedures

2. Enter and edit relevant data accurately

3. Use a range of advanced functions to ensure accurate completion of the task

4. Check documents for spelling, grammar, numeric data and layout

5. Proofread documents for accuracy of contents and consistency of layout and style

6.  Make modifications to meet required specifications

Element:

Save file and exit system

Performance Criteria:


1. Save and store document in appropriate directory or folder

2. Close file and exit application programs without loss of data

3. Make back-up copies of files in accordance with specified procedures if required

4. File and store discs/data in accordance with firm's policies and procedures


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

Learning activities will include class based exercises, demonstrations and observations in order to develop competency including the underpinning skills and knowledge. Formative feedback is provided to the students throughout the duration of the course.

Some learning activities will include a self-directed learning approach. Self-directed learning refers to organised teacher-directed learning acitivities that you will undertake independently, either as individuals or with other students. This may include a workplace research, library assignments, field work and work placements.

This unit contains employability skills.


Teaching Schedule

Week Beginning Content & Element of Competency Requirements
Week 1 - 4 July Introduction; Blackboard; Competency & Employability Skills; OHS Powerpoint
Week 2 - 11 July Codes of Practice; Formatting legal documents; Business letters  Text & Internet
Week 3 - 18 July Assessment 1 & Establish document design and structure; Style guides  Text & Internet
Week 4 - 25 July  All elements of competency: Topic 2 Working with templates  Text
Week 5 - 1 Aug  All elements of competency: Topic 3 Automating templates  Text
Week 6 - 8 Aug  All elements of competency: Portfolio document 1 & Topic 4 Extending your table skills  Text & Printing Credits
Week 7 - 15 Aug  All elements of competency: Topic 5 Creating newsletter layouts  Text
Week 8 - 22 Aug  All elements of competency: Topic 6 Working with long documents  Text
  Mid semester break 29 Aug - 2 Sept  
Week 9 - 5 Sept  All elements of competency: Topic 7 Complex mail merge  Text
Week 10 - 12 Sept  All elements of competency: Topic 7 Complex mail merge  Text
Week 11 - 19 Sept  All elements of competency: Portfolio document 2  Text & Printing Credits
Week 12 - 26 Sept  All elements of competency: Topic 8 Automating repetitive tasks  Text
Week 13 - 3 Oct  All elements of competency: Portfolio document 3  Text & Printing Credits
Week 14 - 10 Oct  All elements of competency: Topic 9 Designing Forms  Text
Week 15 - 17 Oct  All elements of competency: Portfolio document 4  Text & Printing Credits
Week 16 - 24 Oct  Assessment Journal Employability Skills  
Week 17 - 31 Oct Feedback  


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

The Tilde Group, Be Competent in Complex Legal Documents Microsoft Word 2010, Tilde Publishing

9780734607867


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of the requirements in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks, for example:

• assessment of examples of legal documents drafted by the candidate
• review of evaluated and amended templates and macros
• review of printed documents
• oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of accepted codes of practice relevant to the workplace
• review of design and structure of documents
• evaluation of filed and stored discs/data.knowledge of software applications

Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
 


Assessment Tasks

Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of competency to be deemed competent.

Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievements of each element of competency in a flexible manner. Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.

Assessment 1= 10 marks will be an online questionnaire to be completed in class to assess knowledge of relevant legislation, rules, regulations, codes of practice and policies and procedures relevant to the workplace.

Portfolio documents = 20 marks each: Students will also complete a portfolio of evidence which focuses on the practical component of developing and using a range of advanced functions within MS Word 2010. Each portfolio document is to be completed individually in class as indicated on the Training Schedule and is open book. Students are not permitted to share books when completing each portfolio document. Element of competency Check Accuracy from the competency Develop keyboarding speed and accuracy is co-assessed within these portfolio documents.

Note: Students must apply for special consideration if they miss any of the assessments. Refer to Student Diary for Special Consideration procedure. Students who have been granted special consideration will be able to sit their assessment by arrangement with the class teacher during the scheduled class time in week 16 or 17.

Employability Skills Reflective Journal = 10 marks: Co-assessed with OFFC5196C Develop keyboarding speed and accuracy. Students will complete a reflective journal recording their development of employability skills whilst completing both courses. Due: COB Week 16. Submit to the Assignment Box on Level 13 with a completed Assignment Cover Sheet.

If this assessment is submitted late it will attract a DNS/NYC grade. Refer to Student Diary for Special Consideration/Extension of Time procedure. If an Extension of Time is granted note that the grade given will be either NYC/CA. No numerical grade will be recorded.


Assessment Matrix

Prepare and produce complex legal documents Ass 1 Portfolio 1 Portfolio 2 Portfolio 3 Portfolio 4
Element of competency          
Establish document design and structure   Yes Yes Yes Yes
Develop precedents and macros for document design     Yes Yes Yes
Organise self or others to produce documents Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Organise self or others to print documents   Yes Yes Yes Yes
Save file and exit system   Yes Yes Yes Yes
Develop keyboarding speed and accuracy          
Check accuracy   Yes Yes Yes Yes

Course Overview: Access Course Overview